Type action



Sept. 26, 1961 CETRAN HAL 3,001,625

TYPE ACTION Filed June 6, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 44 (f-6 a 45 J 23 Fig- I 33 INVENTORS LOUIS CETRAN ANTHONY DbNOFRIO as LLOYD J. LAPOINTE ATTORNEYS Sept. 2 1961 L. CETRAN HAL 3,001,625

TYPE ACTION Filed June 6, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3

INVENTORS LOUIS CETRAN ANTHONY D'ONOFRIO LLOYD J. LAPOINTE QMWM ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,001,625 TYPE ACTION Louis Cetran, Newington, and Anthony DOnofrio, West Hartford, Conn., and Lloyd J. Lapointe, Rochester, N.Y., assignors to Royal McBee Corporation, Port Chester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 6, 1960, Ser. No. 34,087 Claims. (Cl. 197-17) This invention relates to a novel type action for typewriters and more particularly relates to an improved drive linkage which positively imparts controlled forward and return strokes to a type bar or the like.

In conventional types of power actions each type bar is given an initial impulse during its printing stroke and is power returned to a normal position on the headrest by the usual spring means. During these strokes the accelerations and decelerations of the type bars are not always predictable and under these conditions the speed and etficiency of operation of an electric typewriter may be below that which is otherwise potentially obtainable.

One object of the instant invention is to provide an improved type action for electric typewriters.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type action for an electric typewriter whereby a controlled motion for the printing stroke of the typebar is obtainable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a type bar drive arrangement for electric typewriters whereby the type for accelerations towards and away from the printing point of the machine are predictable and controllable.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cyclically operated drive means for actuating a type bar.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel type action wherein a continually operated toggle linkage may be operatively conditioned to drive a related type bar linkage.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view in partial section showing the essential elements of the instant type action.

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 are side elevational views showing the various active conditions of the instant type action.

It will be understood that unless otherwise indicated the various cross members hereinafter mentioned and shown in the drawings are mounted in the machine side frames in any suitable manner.

Referring to FIGURE 1 there is shown a type bar linkage comprising a type bar 11 which is pivotally mounted on a wire 12 and which is articulately connected to a sub-lever 13 by means of a link 14. The sub-lever is pivotally mounted on the cross shaft 15 and is normally biased in a clockwise direction by means of a spring 16. A continually operating toggle linkage '17 is provided for actuating the sub-lever 13; this linkage comprising a first link which at one end is pivotally connected to the sub-lever by means of a stud 21, and which at its other end is axticulately secured by means of a pin 22 to the adjacent rearward end of a second link 23. The forward end of link 23 is articulately connected to a slide 24 by means of a pin 25. Slide 24 is provided with an elongated slot 26 the longitudinal walls of which slidably engage the supporting cross-shafts 27 and 30. The means for actuating the toggle linkage comprises a connecting rod 31 which is articulately secured between said pin 22 3,031,625v Patented Sept. 26, 1961 and a pin 32 mounted on the outer end of a crank 33. Crank 33 is rotatably fastened to a shaft 34 which is rotatably driven in a counter clockwise direction by any suitable means such as a pulley 35 and a belt 36.

As will be apparent when the shaft 34 is continuously driven the slide 24 will be normally reciprocated as indicated by arrows 37 and 40. As long as the slide is free to so move the spring 16 will yieldably retain the type bar 11 in its normal position on the head rest 41. Means are provided for egaging and temporarily immobilizing slide 24, such means comprising a dog 42 which is provided with a slot 43 having walls that slidably engage a cross shaft 44 and which is biased both to the right, FIGURE 1, and in a counter clockwise direction by means of a spring 45. The counter clockwise limit of travel of the dog is defined by engagement of the upper edge thereof with the lower surface of a cross member 46. The rearward end of the dog is formed with a depending tooth 47 which is adapted to cooperate with a notch 50 provided in the adjacent end of slide 24.

In operation the slide 24 will continually reciprocate in response to the rotation of shaft 34 as illustrated in FIG- URES l, 2 and 3. When it is desired to initiate a printing stroke of the type bar 11 a key lever 51 or other control element is lowered so as to rotate dog 42 in a clockwise direction whereby when the toggle linkage reaches the FIGURE 2 condition the depending dog tooth 47 may become operatively engaged with the slide notch 50. The slide is then positively prevented from partaking of its rearward stroke 37 whereupon the toggle linkage will react to displace the sub-lever 13 in a counter clockwise direction so as to positively impel the type bar 11 through a printing stroke as illustrated in FIGURE 4. After completing its printing stroke the type bar will be returned to its normal FIGURE 1 position by spring 16, the dog 42 in the meantime having been released to move to its normal position shown in FIGURE 1.

It will be seen that the forward printing stroke of type bar 11 is here positively controlled and predictable, the acceleration thereof initially being relatively low but increasing as the printing stroke progresses. In like manner the toggle action tends to slow down the type bar as it approaches the head rest 41 during the return stroke. This controlled forward and return motion will reduce the impact efiects caused by rapid accelerations and/or decelerations of the various parts of the type action and will tend to increase the maximum operational speed and efliciency of the machine.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration only and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a type action; a type bar linkage, a movably mounted slide, a toggle linkage having one end connected to said type bar linkage and the other end connected to said slide, means for actuating said toggle linkage, said movably mounted slide being normally permitted to reciprocate in response to the operation of said toggle linkage actuating means while said type bar linkage remains stationary, and means for temporarily immobilizing said slide so that said type bar linkage is power operated through a printing stroke by said toggle linkage.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said toggle linkage actuating means comprises a rotatably driven crank and connecting rod.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the means for immobilizing said slide includes a movably mounted dog which is adapted to operatively engage a notched portion of said slide.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 additionally comprising a spring which biases said type bar linkage to a monnted slide, a toggle linkage having one end connected tofsaid type bar linkage and the other end connected to said slide, a rotatably' driven crank for actuating said 4 toggle linkage, spring means for maintaining said type bar linkage in a normal position so that said slide is reciprocated in response to the rotation of said crank, and a pivotally mounted dog operable to temporarily immobilize said slide so that said toggle linkage thereby power operates said type ba linkage through an operative printing stroke.

No references cited. 

